The Japan Times » Sport column » MAN ABOUT SPORTShttp://www.japantimes.co.jp
News on Japan, Business News, Opinion, Sports, Entertainment and MoreTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:37:52 +0000en-UShourly1Rare shot at postseason has Panthers fans warming up plastic ratshttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/02/24/more-sports/ice-hockey/rare-shot-postseason-panthers-fans-warming-plastic-rats/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rare-shot-postseason-panthers-fans-warming-plastic-rats
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/02/24/more-sports/ice-hockey/rare-shot-postseason-panthers-fans-warming-plastic-rats/#commentsTue, 24 Feb 2015 12:24:40 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=723266Fans of the NHL’s Florida Panthers are currently rotating their shoulders and arms in a circular manner. Panther fans are getting their limbs loose for some rare rat-chucking. Allow MAS to explain. In Detroit, come playoff time, it’s tradition for Red Wings fans to pelt the ice with octopi after the home team scores its […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/02/24/more-sports/ice-hockey/rare-shot-postseason-panthers-fans-warming-plastic-rats/feed/0Tyson-Douglas anniversary brings back mixed emotionshttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/02/12/more-sports/boxing-2/tyson-douglas-anniversary-brings-back-mixed-emotions/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tyson-douglas-anniversary-brings-back-mixed-emotions
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/02/12/more-sports/boxing-2/tyson-douglas-anniversary-brings-back-mixed-emotions/#commentsThu, 12 Feb 2015 10:48:09 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=716404For MAS, it was the best — and worst — of times. The historic 1990 Mike Tyson-Buster Douglas fight at Tokyo Dome would come to represent both the high and low points of his four decade career as an ink-stained wretch of the English daily keyboard. Indulge MAS, please, while he explains. To fully comprehend […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/02/12/more-sports/boxing-2/tyson-douglas-anniversary-brings-back-mixed-emotions/feed/0NBA has a different look as All-Star break nearshttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/01/30/basketball/nba/nba-different-look-star-break-nears/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nba-different-look-star-break-nears
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/01/30/basketball/nba/nba-different-look-star-break-nears/#commentsFri, 30 Jan 2015 11:20:33 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=709335Up is down and down is up in the NBA these days. One look at the current standings says it all. Former powerhouses have fallen upon hard times. Meanwhile, the recently downtrodden have risen to unfamiliar heights. Some ballclubs are struggling like never before. Take the precipitously plunging Los Angeles Lakers. After missing the playoffs […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/01/30/basketball/nba/nba-different-look-star-break-nears/feed/2New Year’s resolutions Man About Sports hopes forhttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/01/13/general/new-years-resolutions-man-sports-hopes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-years-resolutions-man-sports-hopes
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/01/13/general/new-years-resolutions-man-sports-hopes/#commentsTue, 13 Jan 2015 10:45:56 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=699057For an improved sports world, some better-late-than-never New Year’s resolutions MAS would like to see made — and carried out: ■ MLB — We will make the wild card round of the postseason a best-of-three affair and not a grossly unfair one-and-done deal following a marathon 162-game regular season. ■ NFL — We’ll trim the […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/01/13/general/new-years-resolutions-man-sports-hopes/feed/0Bowl game experiences provide lifetime of memorieshttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/12/30/general/bowl-game-experiences-provide-lifetime-memories/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bowl-game-experiences-provide-lifetime-memories
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/12/30/general/bowl-game-experiences-provide-lifetime-memories/#commentsTue, 30 Dec 2014 09:29:33 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=692339We are presently smack dab in the middle of MAS’ favorite time of the sports year — the college football bowl season. Between Dec. 20 and Jan. 4, a whopping 38 bowl games will be played. And MAS makes it a point to watch at least part of every single one on TV (as Willie […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/12/30/general/bowl-game-experiences-provide-lifetime-memories/feed/0Selection committee for NCAA playoff system flawedhttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/12/16/more-sports/football/selection-committee-ncaa-playoff-system-flawed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=selection-committee-ncaa-playoff-system-flawed
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/12/16/more-sports/football/selection-committee-ncaa-playoff-system-flawed/#commentsTue, 16 Dec 2014 11:32:48 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=684504“Geez, it’s not figure skating.” — Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher’s take on “style points” affecting the college football playoff rankings. Style points. Translation: lopsided wins. These days, it isn’t enough for teams to just win every week on the college gridiron. You also have to accomplish it with pile-it-on panache as well — i.e. […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/12/16/more-sports/football/selection-committee-ncaa-playoff-system-flawed/feed/0Hot Stove League heating up as temperatures drophttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/12/02/general/hot-stove-league-heating-temperatures-drop/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hot-stove-league-heating-temperatures-drop
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/12/02/general/hot-stove-league-heating-temperatures-drop/#commentsTue, 02 Dec 2014 09:25:52 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=676488The Polar Vortex reappeared recently and once more cut a wide swath across the U.S. The severe cold it brought affected even those of us in South Florida. When its frigid fringes swept deep into The Sunshine State, temps dropped all the way down into the bone-chilling (for us) mid-50s F. Brrrrrr. Why, a man […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/12/02/general/hot-stove-league-heating-temperatures-drop/feed/0Unrealistic expectations of media, fans ridiculoushttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/11/18/general/unrealistic-expectations-media-fans-ridiculous/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=unrealistic-expectations-media-fans-ridiculous
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/11/18/general/unrealistic-expectations-media-fans-ridiculous/#commentsTue, 18 Nov 2014 11:24:56 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=668586Ever peruse the vitriolic comments following a game recap online when a usually dominant local team loses? Or a superstar has an off night? Then I don’t need to tell you how demanding and impatient spoiled fans of super successful pro teams or players — and the media covering them — can be these days. […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/11/18/general/unrealistic-expectations-media-fans-ridiculous/feed/0Surprise showing by Jaguars forces change of planhttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/11/04/more-sports/football/surprise-showing-jaguars-forces-change-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=surprise-showing-jaguars-forces-change-plan
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/11/04/more-sports/football/surprise-showing-jaguars-forces-change-plan/#commentsTue, 04 Nov 2014 10:48:12 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=660601Every NFL dog has its day. Even the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. And the Jags ended up doing MAS a huge favor while enjoying theirs two weeks ago. Stay with him on this while he explains. Heading into the seventh game of the season, the 0-6 Jaguars were trying to avoid becoming just the fourth NFL […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/11/04/more-sports/football/surprise-showing-jaguars-forces-change-plan/feed/0Mississippi enjoying moment as center of college football landscapehttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/10/22/general/mississippi-enjoying-moment-center-college-football-landscape/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mississippi-enjoying-moment-center-college-football-landscape
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/10/22/general/mississippi-enjoying-moment-center-college-football-landscape/#commentsWed, 22 Oct 2014 10:05:19 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=653229On one history-making Saturday recently, the state of Mississippi became the center of the college football universe. And, against all odds, it remains so. First, a little background. The Magnolia State’s top two grid schools — Ole Miss (The University of Mississippi) and Mississippi State — had each enjoyed moderate football success over the years. […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/10/22/general/mississippi-enjoying-moment-center-college-football-landscape/feed/0ACLU should be outspoken advocate of Peterson’s right to due processhttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/10/07/more-sports/football/aclu-outspoken-advocate-petersons-right-due-process/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=aclu-outspoken-advocate-petersons-right-due-process
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/10/07/more-sports/football/aclu-outspoken-advocate-petersons-right-due-process/#commentsTue, 07 Oct 2014 10:29:02 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=645052Where is the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) when you REALLY need it? That’s the question suspended Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson — accused of child abuse for disciplining his 4-year-old son with a switch — must be asking himself these days. Why isn’t the ACLU coming to his aid, Peterson is probably wondering, […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/10/07/more-sports/football/aclu-outspoken-advocate-petersons-right-due-process/feed/1Williams won’t allow Nationals to baby their playershttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/09/23/baseball/mlb/williams-wont-allow-nationals-baby-players/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=williams-wont-allow-nationals-baby-players
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/09/23/baseball/mlb/williams-wont-allow-nationals-baby-players/#commentsTue, 23 Sep 2014 10:11:29 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=636881What a difference a day makes. Or in the case of the Washington Nationals, two years make. In September of the 2012 season, the Nats brain trust — in a heavily scrutinized and much criticized move — shut down pitching wunderkind Stephen Strasburg as he approached a predetermined 170 innings-pitched limit. This meant the guy […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/09/23/baseball/mlb/williams-wont-allow-nationals-baby-players/feed/0Brewers enjoying turnaround despite recent struggleshttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/09/09/baseball/mlb/brewers-enjoying-turnaround-despite-recent-struggles/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=brewers-enjoying-turnaround-despite-recent-struggles
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/09/09/baseball/mlb/brewers-enjoying-turnaround-despite-recent-struggles/#commentsTue, 09 Sep 2014 12:09:04 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=629323Darn those woebegone Chicago Cubs! They sure know how to ruin a great storyline. If it weren’t for the perennially cellar-dwelling, lovable loser Cubbies, the Milwaukee Brewers would have an excellent shot at a worst-to-first finish in the National League Central this campaign. Last season, the 74-88 Brewers finished a whopping game 25 games out […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/09/09/baseball/mlb/brewers-enjoying-turnaround-despite-recent-struggles/feed/0New NCAA playoff system filled with complex issueshttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/08/26/more-sports/football/new-ncaa-playoff-system-filled-complex-issues/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-ncaa-playoff-system-filled-complex-issues
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/08/26/more-sports/football/new-ncaa-playoff-system-filled-complex-issues/#commentsTue, 26 Aug 2014 11:06:15 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=621315As homespun ex-Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden might say, this U.S. college football season promises to be pretty “dad gum” interesting. With the debut of what many fans have long been clamoring for — a national championship tournament — things should at least be different. But will they be better? To that end, MAS […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/08/26/more-sports/football/new-ncaa-playoff-system-filled-complex-issues/feed/0Baseball Hall of Fame selection process needs changehttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/08/12/general/baseball-hall-fame-selection-process-needs-change/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=baseball-hall-fame-selection-process-needs-change
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/08/12/general/baseball-hall-fame-selection-process-needs-change/#commentsTue, 12 Aug 2014 12:13:16 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=613831It took a highly successful NCAA basketball coach, Tom Crean of Indiana University, to put into words what MAS learned long ago as a head high school football coach. Crean admirably admitted: “Coaches receive FAR too much credit for a team winning — and FAR too much blame for it losing.” In the end, it’s […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/08/12/general/baseball-hall-fame-selection-process-needs-change/feed/0All-Star contests need to get serious or give it uphttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/07/29/more-sports/star-contests-need-get-serious-give/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=star-contests-need-get-serious-give
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/07/29/more-sports/star-contests-need-get-serious-give/#commentsTue, 29 Jul 2014 11:51:18 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=606256The recent MLB All-Star Game was — as usual — hard fought and exciting. In a word, it was terrific. In other words, it was everything the NFL, NBA and NHL All-Star contests are not. After viewing the latter three luminary affairs earlier this year, MAS feels everyone — fans, players and honchos — might […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/07/29/more-sports/star-contests-need-get-serious-give/feed/0CFL has been court of last resort for many over yearshttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/07/15/more-sports/football/cfl-court-last-resort-many-years/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cfl-court-last-resort-many-years
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/07/15/more-sports/football/cfl-court-last-resort-many-years/#commentsTue, 15 Jul 2014 12:07:03 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=598356The Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League are like a mix of the Statue of Liberty, the Oakland Raiders and Walmart. As in: Give us your huddled masses of disenfranchised footballers — those underappreciated or overlooked by the NFL and the talented but renegade ne’er-do-wells. But we won’t pay ‘em much. With a CFL-mandated […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/07/15/more-sports/football/cfl-court-last-resort-many-years/feed/0Gomez enthralls with Jekyll-and-Hyde personashttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/07/01/baseball/mlb/gomez-enthralls-jekyll-hyde-personas/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gomez-enthralls-jekyll-hyde-personas
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/07/01/baseball/mlb/gomez-enthralls-jekyll-hyde-personas/#commentsTue, 01 Jul 2014 11:07:23 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=589996Carlos Gomez, star Milwaukee center fielder, is a classic study in contradictions. At first blush, he appears to be an MLB troublemaker. He has been at the center of numerous on-field confrontations as a result of his flamboyant bat-flipping and baserunning antics. But, as MAS learned, in Carlos’ case looks can be deceiving. Off the […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/07/01/baseball/mlb/gomez-enthralls-jekyll-hyde-personas/feed/0McGehee continuing to benefit from playing in Japanhttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/06/17/baseball/mlb/mcgehee-continuing-benefit-playing-japan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mcgehee-continuing-benefit-playing-japan
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/06/17/baseball/mlb/mcgehee-continuing-benefit-playing-japan/#commentsTue, 17 Jun 2014 10:23:30 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=574356In baseball parlance, feared Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton is a beast. Safe to say, also, that former Rakuten Golden Eagle Casey McGehee has released the beast. A power hitter like Stanton — the National League home run leader with 19 — can only be as successful as the man hitting behind him in the […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/06/17/baseball/mlb/mcgehee-continuing-benefit-playing-japan/feed/0‘Million Dollar Arm’ details search for Indian prospectshttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/06/03/more-sports/million-dollar-arm-details-search-indian-prospects/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=million-dollar-arm-details-search-indian-prospects
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/06/03/more-sports/million-dollar-arm-details-search-indian-prospects/#commentsTue, 03 Jun 2014 14:06:00 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=568971Exiting the theater after viewing “Million Dollar Arm,” MAS had a strange urge to break out in song — in this case, “It’s a Small World,” the melody they play on the Disneyland kiddie ride of the same name. Hokey, I know — but so apropos. That tune just represented MAS’ thoughts on the recently-released […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/06/03/more-sports/million-dollar-arm-details-search-indian-prospects/feed/0Playoffs filled with great action, interesting story lineshttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/27/basketball/nba/playoffs-filled-great-action-interesting-story-lines/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=playoffs-filled-great-action-interesting-story-lines
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/27/basketball/nba/playoffs-filled-great-action-interesting-story-lines/#commentsTue, 27 May 2014 12:55:20 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=566255Cue DJ-style NBA public address announcer: In for-r-r Sa-a-a-a-m Smith this-s-s week, M-A-A-A-A-S! While MAS has yet to author his first book, let alone pen a hardwood classic like Sam-the-Man’s “Jordan Rules,” he’ll still lace up his old school black Converse high tops and gamely try to fill the NBA info void this week created […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/27/basketball/nba/playoffs-filled-great-action-interesting-story-lines/feed/0Outlook for Nationals reliant upon health of DC3http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/20/baseball/mlb/outlook-nationals-reliant-upon-health-dc3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=outlook-nationals-reliant-upon-health-dc3
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/20/baseball/mlb/outlook-nationals-reliant-upon-health-dc3/#commentsTue, 20 May 2014 12:51:30 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=563859How many times in sports have you heard it: As so-and-so goes, so goes team such-and-such? In the case of the Washington Nationals, outstanding showings by the trio of Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth seem mandatory if the Nats are to excel. You can look it up — MAS did. In this situation, […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/20/baseball/mlb/outlook-nationals-reliant-upon-health-dc3/feed/0Most NFL draft experts as clueless as the rest of ushttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/07/more-sports/football/nfl-draft-experts-clueless-rest-us/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nfl-draft-experts-clueless-rest-us
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/07/more-sports/football/nfl-draft-experts-clueless-rest-us/#commentsWed, 07 May 2014 14:10:01 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=559466Few things make MAS chuckle — and also irritate him — the way “NFL draft gurus” on TV do. So, watching the NFL’s annual cattle call this week, he’ll likely once more be alternately bemused and annoyed. Each of the major TV sports networks in the United States has one of these supercilious talent experts […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/07/more-sports/football/nfl-draft-experts-clueless-rest-us/feed/0Ex-NFL star Johnson happy for new shot with CFLhttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/04/22/more-sports/football/ex-nfl-star-johnson-happy-for-new-shot-with-cfl/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ex-nfl-star-johnson-happy-for-new-shot-with-cfl
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/04/22/more-sports/football/ex-nfl-star-johnson-happy-for-new-shot-with-cfl/#commentsTue, 22 Apr 2014 11:02:27 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=554475Don’t you just love serendipitous dovetailing? MAS sure does after benefiting from a whole bunch of it while putting this column together. Indulge him, please, while he explains. After the shocking release of star receiver DeSean Jackson by the Philadelphia Eagles, MAS had contemplated doing a piece on the “Death of the NFL Diva.” With […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/04/22/more-sports/football/ex-nfl-star-johnson-happy-for-new-shot-with-cfl/feed/0Smaller conferences prove they can play with big boyshttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/04/08/basketball/smaller-conferences-prove-they-can-play-with-big-boys/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=smaller-conferences-prove-they-can-play-with-big-boys
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/04/08/basketball/smaller-conferences-prove-they-can-play-with-big-boys/#commentsTue, 08 Apr 2014 13:11:17 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=548280“Now it’s a disco, but not for Lola . . . She sits there so refined and drinks herself half-blind” — Lyrics from “Copacabana” Hearing Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski’s pre-NCAA tourney whine and then seeing his Blue Devils, a third seed, ousted by unheralded No. 14 seed Mercer in the very first round, MAS […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/04/08/basketball/smaller-conferences-prove-they-can-play-with-big-boys/feed/0The buzz is gone, but Matsuzaka continues to battle onhttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/03/25/baseball/mlb/the-buzz-is-gone-but-matsuzaka-continues-to-battle-on/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-buzz-is-gone-but-matsuzaka-continues-to-battle-on
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/03/25/baseball/mlb/the-buzz-is-gone-but-matsuzaka-continues-to-battle-on/#commentsTue, 25 Mar 2014 12:51:44 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=541571Under a cloudless sky the color of his old powder-blue Seibu Lions uniform, Daisuke Matsuzaka and his fellow New York Mets pitchers are being put through their spring training paces here. This day, the hurlers are broken into five groups, each set working on a different fundamental aspect of their position: fielding bunts, pick-off moves, […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/03/25/baseball/mlb/the-buzz-is-gone-but-matsuzaka-continues-to-battle-on/feed/0Florida a better base for watching or playing in springhttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/03/11/baseball/mlb/florida-a-better-base-for-watching-or-playing-in-spring/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=florida-a-better-base-for-watching-or-playing-in-spring
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/03/11/baseball/mlb/florida-a-better-base-for-watching-or-playing-in-spring/#commentsTue, 11 Mar 2014 12:58:19 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=535533Is big league spring training best held in arid Arizona or humid Florida? Hmmm. Well, MAS once saw an Arizona postcard that pretty much sums up the difference between that state and Florida. The card pictures two skeletons relaxing on beach chairs in the desert under a blazing ‘Zona sun. One skeleton, in response to […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/03/11/baseball/mlb/florida-a-better-base-for-watching-or-playing-in-spring/feed/1Sports world races to make over Mt. Rushmorehttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/02/25/more-sports/sports-world-races-to-make-over-mt-rushmore/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sports-world-races-to-make-over-mt-rushmore
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/02/25/more-sports/sports-world-races-to-make-over-mt-rushmore/#commentsTue, 25 Feb 2014 13:11:29 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=529280Honest Abe, Teddy the Trust Buster, Big Daddy George and Constitutional Penman Tom —whose noble visages grace Mt. Rushmore — all must be spinning in their graves about now. It has become the rage in the U.S. to choose the top four all-time performers in a given sport — or at a position — and […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/02/25/more-sports/sports-world-races-to-make-over-mt-rushmore/feed/0Reaction to Sherman’s rant completely over the tophttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/01/28/more-sports/football/reaction-to-shermans-rant-completely-over-the-top/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=reaction-to-shermans-rant-completely-over-the-top
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/01/28/more-sports/football/reaction-to-shermans-rant-completely-over-the-top/#commentsTue, 28 Jan 2014 10:53:51 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=514588What would a Super Bowl be without a mountain being made of out a molehill? You know, a huge controversy growing out of a relatively insignificant occurrence. Like Joe Namath predicting an upset, Eugene Robinson arrested for solicitation or Thomas Henderson belittling Terry Bradshaw’s brain. Well, SB XLVIII is falling right in line. This time […]

]]>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/01/28/more-sports/football/reaction-to-shermans-rant-completely-over-the-top/feed/0Coaching, managerial changes follow predictable patternshttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/01/14/more-sports/football/coaching-managerial-changes-follow-predictable-patterns/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=coaching-managerial-changes-follow-predictable-patterns
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/01/14/more-sports/football/coaching-managerial-changes-follow-predictable-patterns/#commentsTue, 14 Jan 2014 13:47:38 +0000http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&p=508455Whenever a coaching change is made in the NFL or a managerial switch takes place in MLB, the players on the teams involved must feel like police suspects being subjected to the classic “good cop-bad cop” routine. With their hires, teams are always bouncing back and forth between stricter and more gentle on-field leaders. Detectives […]